Students go ‘green’ with launch of new enterprise

Students at the school are now buying everything from bamboo toothbrushes to shampoo and deodorant bars. There are even bio-degradable wheat hairbrushes, plant-based mouthwash tablets, biodegradable wipes and tissues on sale, to help reduce the impact on the environment.

Gordonstoun is one of the first schools in the UK to launch its own sustainability shop.

The opening of the new enterprise, based in the school’s Healthcare Centre, has been such a success that it has already expanded to offer even more green products.

It has also resulted in a reduction in the substantial number of online parcels arriving at Gordonstoun. Up to 4,500 packages are delivered every month and the reduction has contributed towards less emissions and improved air quality on campus.

The latest green initiative is part of Gordonstoun’s ongoing strategy to become more sustainable by reducing its carbon footprint.

Gordonstoun has already launched a series of bold, low carbon measures to help meet its climate targets.

In February, the school opened a new classroom hub, ‘The Queen Elizabeth II Rooms, which boasts advanced environmental credentials such as solar PV panels, ground source heating and hi-tech C02 monitoring. Gordonstoun announced in April plans for its own Solar Farm as part of the next phase of its campus masterplan.

The new shop is the brainchild of Rachael Wareing, Healthcare Centre Manager and Nurse. She worked with students on Gordonstoun’s Enterprise and Sustainability committees on the launch of the initiative.

Rachael Wareing said:

“My daughter is passionate about the environment and it inspired me to start being more sustainable at home, such as buying bamboo toothbrushes. It then got me thinking that we should be doing more of this at Gordonstoun, so I decided to start a new enterprise initiative offering sustainable healthcare products.

“Living a more sustainable life is becoming more important with every passing day and it’s important we get that message over to the next generation.

“Our new enterprise has only been going a few months but has been so popular that we have had to expand to keep up with demand.

“Everyone from the students to staff and parents have embraced the new products and I’m hoping this is just the start of a major cultural change in the school, where everyone is committed to being more sustainable.”

Students can bring in their old shampoo bottles and refill them from five litre bottles, and eco-friendly sanitary products are also on sale. Other products include makeup removers, hairbrushes and shaving bars.

The enterprise also sells healthy protein bars with bio-degradable packing and chocolate sourced by suppliers campaigning for a better deal for cocoa farmers and their families. Banana chips, dried fruits, nuts, organic teas and porridge are also on sale.

Any surplus from the sale of the sustainable products goes to Gordonstoun’s sustainability committee to invest in other sustainable initiatives within the school.

Rachael added:

“It has been a bit of a shift persuading the students to use products such as shampoo bars, but gradually they are coming round, although I’m still working on persuading many of the male students to swop over to shaving bars of soap.

“All these products use natural, organic ingredients without parabens or nasty chemicals that can affect the wellbeing of young, developing bodies.”

Rachael has also been the driving force behind expanding the recycling points around the school to include other items such as razors, toothbrushes and even glasses. Students are also being persuaded to stop buying plastic water bottles and have been issued with sustainable bottles they can re-use.

Student Flo Moncur, said:

“The sustainability enterprise gives us a great opportunity to purchase amazing quality products that are also good for the planet. I know that lots of friends like to go down and buy a wide range of products from sustainable shampoo bars to organic snacks. The fact it’s a social enterprise means I know my money is going to a good cause.”

Adaeze Chiana, said:

“The lip balm is really cool and has a good mechanism for application. It’s made of honeycomb waxes and is lovely on my lips. The packaging is cardboard so it's more sustainable. I never thought that you could get lip balm that is applicable without the plastic.”

Simon Cane-Hardy, Head of Senior School, added:

“Our new ‘green shop’ is a key part of Gordonstoun’s sustainability plan and it’s heartening to see our students leading the way in reducing the school’s carbon footprint.

“It has been a big step change for the children who are used to ordering more familiar health products by clicking online. The students have really embraced this new initiative, with more products now on sale and more to come to keep up with demand.

“Gordonstoun is always looking at innovative ways to become more sustainable and it’s great to see the students coming up with their own ideas to help us reach this target.”